Evaluating the Potential of Maize (Zea Mays) Cobs for Mercury Removal from Small-Scale Gold Mining Wastewater

Maize (Zea mays) cobs are significant agricultural residues, often disposed of harmfully.Their physical and chemical properties, however, make them suitable for heavy metal adsorption.This study used pyrolyzed maize cobs to remove mercury from wastewater generated by small-scale gold mining (SSGM) at a facility in Andili, Mawab, Davao de Oro.The objective was to evaluate the cobs' efficiency in mercury removal, metal uptake, and compliance with wastewater standards.Batch adsorption experiments utilized 6 g of pyrolyzed maize cob adsorbent per 100 mL of wastewater, with contact times of 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours.The results showed a maximum average adsorption efficiency of 84.38% and a maximum average metal uptake of 3.365x10 mol/g, indicating that maize cobs are effective in adsorbing mercury from SSGM wastewater.